[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
U-N/Human Rights
DATE=3/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228209
TITLE=U-N / HUMAN RIGHTS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS URGED THE WORLD'S
NATIONS TO PROTECT THE VALUES ENSHRINED IN THE UNIVERSAL
DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS MR.
ANNAN SPOKE TO THE OPENING SESSION OF THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION WHICH SPEND THE NEXT SIX WEEKS STUDYING REPORTS ABOUT
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD.
TEXT: U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL, KOFI ANNAN SAYS HUMAN RIGHTS ARE
UNIVERSAL RIGHTS. AND HE SAYS THE RECOGNITION AND PROTECTION OF
THESE RIGHTS ARE AS VALID NOW AS THEY WERE 50 YEARS AGO WHEN THE
DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS WAS ADOPTED.
/// ANNAN ACT ///
OUR FOREFATHERS BUILT THE UNITED NATIONS TO SAVE
SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS FROM HOLOCAUST AND WAR, HORRORS
WHICH BROUGHT UNTOLD SORROW TO HUMANKIND. THE UNIVERSAL
DECLARATION WAS BORN OUT OF THAT EXPERIENCE AS A MISSION
STATEMENT NEVER TO LET THESE HORRORS HAPPEN AGAIN.
/// END ACT ///
MR. ANNAN URGES PEOPLE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST INJUSTICE,
INHUMANITY, AND INTOLERANCE. HE SAYS THE DECLARATION WILL WORK
TO PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS -- BUT, ONLY IF PEOPLE REMAIN VIGILANT
AND WORK TO PROTECT THE DECLARATION.
SOME COUNTRIES, NOTABLY IN ASIA AND AFRICA, HAVE CALLED FOR THE
DECLARATION TO BE REVISED TO REFLECT, WHAT THEY CALL, THEIR
PARTICULAR VALUES. THEY SAY WESTERN IDEAS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ARE
NOT RELEVANT TO THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES.
MR. ANNAN SAYS HE REJECTS THOSE ARGUMENTS. THE GHANAIAN-BORN
SECRETARY GENERAL SAYS HE IS DISHEARTENED BY THE VIEWS EXPRESSED
BY SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES.
/// ANNAN ACT ///
SOME AFRICANS STILL VIEW THE CONCERN OF HUMAN RIGHTS AS
A RICH MAN'S LUXURY FOR WHICH AFRICA IS NOT READY, OR
EVEN AS A CONSPIRACY, IMPOSED BY THE INDUSTRIALIZED
WEST. I FIND THESE THOUGHTS DEMEANING -- DEMEANING FOR
THE YEARNING FOR HUMAN DIGNITY THAT RESIDES IN EVERY
AFRICAN HEART.
/// END ACT ///
WHILE MR. ANNAN WAS SPEAKING, ABOUT 400 ETHNIC ALBANIANS HELD A
SILENT VIGIL OUTSIDE THE HEAVILY GUARDED U-N COMPOUND. THE
PROTESTORS DEMANDED AN END TO WHAT THEY CALL SERB "PERSECUTION
AND MASSACRES OF THE ALBANIAN POPULATION" IN THE YUGOSLAV
PROVINCE OF KOSOVO. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH
16-Mar-98 8:02 AM EST (1302 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.